Rather, this appears to be an exploratory study to better understand the issue. Review of the Literature

The literature included in the review is relevant and recent. The data demonstrates the need for understanding the problem and the importance of the issue to the health and safety of healthcare workers. Although the initial literature review is quite brief, the literature is expanded in the discussion of the results.

Research Design

The research design is a quantitative methodology utilizing a survey to collect data. Information collected was appropriate given the overall scope and focus of the research -- i.e. exploratory. Although the results provide some insight into the specific survey that was used, pertinent information about the survey has been omitted from the study. This may make replication of the study difficult.

Sampling

Examining the target population, it is evident that limited information on the sample is provided. For instance, the number of types of healthcare facilities accessed is noted. Further, the areas in which the subjects work are also reported. However, issues such as expertise and education are not included in the sample overview. The sample selection procedures are not provided; it is assumed that participation is voluntary. The sampling method fits the research design and is sufficiently large -- 336 participants. The authors did not use power analysis to document the adequacy of the sample population. No differences in response rates by occupations were noted, indicating that the sample population was homogenous and adequate for this investigation. The results of the study were generalized to a larger population of all healthcare workers.

Data Collection

The reliability and validity of the instrument appears to be established. Therefore the authors are able to justify their use of this instrument for the current research. Although the questionnaire appears to be appropriate for the current research, specific details about the instrument are not provided by the authors.
Quantitative Analysis

The research design and the study question do fit with the analysis methods used. SPSS for Windows 9.0 was used to analyze the data using ANOVA and t-tests. These tests were used to quantify the overall significance of the data and differences between and in groups. The link between the findings and the data is clear as the authors are able to demonstrate the relevance of the data. The results are presented in the text and in numerical format. Tables are used to highlight specific aspects of the data.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Although the authors do not note the limitations of the study, it seems reasonable to argue that a small sample size may have limited the outcomes of the research. The data analysis results are clearly explained in detail and their ramifications for healthcare workers are discussed. The authors do generalize the findings beyond the sample population, exploring the implications for nurses working in the U.S. where 98% of nurses use latex on a daily basis. Recommendations from the results include: the development of pre-employment screening to help reduce adverse impacts of latex allergies and establishment of general measures to reduce the incidence of latex allergies.

Conclusion

The data provided by Ozkan and Gokdogan (2003) is both concise and relevant to nursing. Although there are some deficiencies in the data provided, there is ample evidence to suggest that the authors have done a comprehensive job in both conducting the research and examining the data. The findings clearly warrant additional attention to latex allergies to improve outcomes for nurse and all healthcare professionals.